Gadsden City High School Tennis Teams

HAPPY FATHER’S DAY TO ALL OUR FELLOW TENNIS DAYS AND COACHES!!

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!!

ALABAMA VOTERS!!!!!!
TODAY IS THE DAY!!!!!!!

This morning reach out to your Senators and fight against this bill I/We have fought so hard against over last year!!! (That keeps coming backk like a bad penny)
THIS TIME IT IS BEING DONE ON A HOLIDAY (valentine’s day) AND HIDDEN AMONGST OTHER ITEMS TO HIDE IT FROM THE HARD PAYING AND WORKING TAX PAYERS!!!!

School Voucher Bill in Senate Committee on Wednesday - Contact Lawmakers!
The Senate version of the CHOOSE Act (SB61) will be in the Senate Finance and Taxation Education Committee this Wednesday, Feb. 14 at 10:00 AM for a public hearing.

Please contact lawmakers on the Senate Finance and Taxation (Senate F&TE) committee. Tell them why you oppose the Legislature taking public school funds from the state's education budget for private school tuition and homeschool expenses without program and financial safeguards and accountability for public taxpayer dollars.

Gov. Kay Ivey’s top priority this legislative session, the Creating Hope and Opportunity for our Students' Education (CHOOSE) Act sponsored by education budget chairmen Sen. Arthur Orr (SB61) and Rep. Danny Garrett (HB129), would require the legislature annually appropriate at least $100 million from the state’s education budget to pay for private school tuition and homeschool expenses beginning in the 2025-2026 school year. The governor's supplemental budget this session includes $50 million for the CHOOSE Act Fund.

Click here to contact members of the Senate Finance & Taxation Education Committee via email, by phone, or both before Wednesday's public hearing!
https://fastdemocracy.com/bill-search/al/committees/ALC000010/

AASB is concerned about the impact this legislation would have on public school funding, especially for poor and special-needs students who may not benefit. As the CHOOSE Act is currently written, there is no ceiling or cap on the amount of money this would annually cost the state from the Education Trust Fund.

While proponents say the CHOOSE Act is "effective and sustainable" there are no financial safeguards written into the bill to ensure costs would not escalate dramatically. In year three of the voucher program, any parent regardless of income could get state funds to pay for their child's private school tuition – so-called “universal school choice.”

The CHOOSE Act would direct the Alabama Department of Revenue to establish ESAs for parents to access funds to pay for private school tuition, homeschooling and other educational expenses.
It would provide up to $7,000 per year per student enrolled at an accredited, participating private or public school through an ESA funded by a new refundable income tax credit.
Families who choose homeschooling would receive up to $2,000 per year per homeschooler, with a $4,000-cap per year for families with more than one homeschooler.
The first 500 tax credits would be reserved for students with special needs (students with an individual education plan or 504 accommodation).
For the first two years, families whose household incomes do not exceed 300% of the federal poverty level (approx. $93,000 for a family of four) would qualify for the program.

The ESAs funded through the CHOOSE Act would cover expenses including:
Private school tuition and fees
Textbooks
Fees for after-school and summer programs
Private tutoring
Online learning programs
Educational software and applications
Fees for standardized tests, including college admissions tests and Advanced Placement exams
Educational services for students with disabilities
Other contracted services

There is not a private school or homeschool parent who will not want this new government handout!